Tell CBI what you think employers could do for parents to make it easier to balance work and family life? £250 voucher to be won!NOW CLOSED

[MichelleMumsnet]

As part of The Great Business Debate campaign, The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) have asked us to find out what Mumsnetters think employers could do better to make it easier for parents to balance work and family life.

Here’s what CBI say, “The Great Business Debate is a CBI led campaign to help build public confidence in business.

"Only around half of people believe business makes a positive contribution to society and we want to play a part in increasing that figure. We are doing this by:
• Setting out the facts and combatting myths about what business does and the contribution it makes
• Encouraging people to give us their views on business and where it needs to do more
• Providing an opportunity for business to take part in a constructive conversation about what it does and how it does it

"As employees, our experiences of working life have a big impact on our view of business. Companies of all sizes rely on their people for success, and want to make use of the best talents available. But there is an ongoing debate about whether employers are doing enough to ensure parents – and especially mums – are supported to balance their family and work life, without having to sacrifice one for the other. We're sponsoring this discussion with Mumsnetters to hear your views.”

So, what do you think employers could do to make it easier for parents returning to work to find a balance between family life and work? Maybe you’d like more employers to encourage flexible working hours? Or perhaps to prioritise parents when employees request to have annual leave during school holidays? Whatever it is, we’d love to hear it!

Everyone who comments on this thread will be entered into a prize draw where one Mumsnetter will win a £250 Love2Shop voucher.

CBI are also hosting a round table event on this topic on Wednesday 26th November in Central London, which will be attended by business leaders and not-for-profit organisations, as well as Justine, our CEO. There are two places reserved for Mumsnetters also. If you’d be interested in attending then please PM me, we will then select two Mumsnetters at random.

Please note: Please be aware your anonymised comments may be re-used by the CBI on their websites, over social media and for broader PR purposes.

Thanks and good luck
MNHQ

I think that it's important for everyone in an organisation to feel valued and to have the opportunity to request flexible working, whether that's because they have caring responsibilities for children, for elderly parents, for other family members, or because they have their own skills and interests that they want to develop. I've been lucky enough to request flexible working over the last year in order to write a novel, and although I've now returned to normal working patterns, it was a really beneficial experience.

Flexibility and trust. My place is amazing, but I have friends where sadly it's. Not the same.

I was going to say prioritise parents who want annual leave in school holidays before even seeing it suggested in the OP. I also think a certain number of days you can take off when children are poorly would be useful for working parents. The ability to work extra hours and take it off another day would be good. We have to take leave between Christmas and new year which I really like as it means we don't have to request the time off, it's a special time and I can be off work without feeling guilty and without needing to take it in turns with others. I am lucky and my employer are very good and encourage those returning to work after having children and do accommodate flexibility where possible.

Flexible working hours is the biggest thing. If I am able to arrange for my husband to do both the school drop off and collection and therefore I can work a very long day that day I would like the flexibility to be able to work a very short day another day so that I could do both the drop and collection. Equally I would like to be able to work longer hours on some days so that I could for example take an inset day off without having to use my holidays.

Remove the "Guilt Trip" that a lot of employers put you on if you try to shift your work pattern to start early/finish early. They tend to ignore the fact that you got in at 7 and only remember that you left at 4.

flexible working hours so they don't need to book off half days for appointments

Provide nursery on site or near by should a certain number of employees have young children

Fair paternity leave and flexible hours

More options to work from home, and job sharing - not 2 part time jobs but one full time job shared between 2 people with perks that go with it and trust the 2 to cover each other for added flexibility

give them time to prepare for birthdays Christmas etc.

Flexibility is the key on both sides. If employers allow staff to make up their hours whenever possible to allow for sick days with the children or appointments it would make working life so much easier.

If you work shifts in a small team then a company is very limited in scope, however just keeping to terms and conditions of contracts is a big thing - rather than the company forcing through arbitrary changes because a mnager has a "brilliant" idea

More workplace creches, Flexible working hours and priority for leave during school holidays.

we need more workplace nurseries.. other countries recognise this, so now it's our turn.

more job share and flexible working options would really help, as well as asking employees once they start what their commitments are (not at interview stage) for example caring commitments etc. permitting shift changes, shift swaps etc.

It would help if the government (any and every government for the past 20 or more years) actually cared about families instead of paying lip service to the thought.

flexitime

Cheaper, subsidised child care, so that you don't was all your money going back on it

I think job share between Mum and dad would be amazing.... So both get time with the kids as well as time out :) i always feel a bit bad hubby misses out on things like school plays etc and his hours don't allow him to attend these...

I would love to be able to work from home but it just isn't feasible with my job! A creche on site might be useful for some parents but much of my work is in the community so again wouldn't be suitable. I do love that my employer allows flexible work hours & TOIL, however this could be alot more flexible! I guess there's no ideal solution as all families and workplaces are different but communication between employers and their employees has to be key.

I am very lucky and work for a Boss who allows me to balance work and home perfectly. If the boys are sick I can work from home. If they have an assembly I can come in late. If I have parents evening or any other school appointment I can leave early. I think it is because my Manager has children of a similar age to mine and understands how important it is to be able to be a part of all those little milestones. My boss is the best :)

Subsidized in work creches/nurseries/after school childcare provision would be very helpful. Equally, an environment where men can take time off to collect sick children, etc. Too often it is assumed that the woman will just drop what she's doing. Employers who understand that fathers are also parents with responsibilities towards their children would help to reduce stress!

I am fortunate enough to have a fully flexible job and I wish that more employers would be too. For parents we all need flexibility so that we are there when children are ill/have holidays.

Employers should be able to offer work from home roles that are also flexible hours. I work when my children are at school, completely home based. If illness crops up I am free to collect my child, take them to appointments and know that my job is safe - yes I have to make up my hours when I do this, but I know that I can do this around my family commitments.

Parents should not be penalised in the work place for asking for flexibility - it gives a better amount of work produced as I am happy in my role and confident that no matter what I have the support of my company.

I think flexible working for both parents and a similar approach to sick days etc. I am lucky that my work and my husband's work are both pretty good as if we just relied on my work, it would never have worked.

However, I think I pushed dh to take sick days etc. and did not give him an option. It did take a while for him to realise that my work was as important as his and that his employer would let him leave early/take days off.

Working from home days - giving extra travelling time / lunchtime for some me time, cleaning time etc